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HOW TO MAKE 

AND USE 

ANTI-HOG CHOLERA 

SERUM 



By 

MASON S. PETERS 

President of 

The National Anti-Hog Cholera Serum 

Company 



Copyrighted 1911 

by 

Mason S. Pet«rs 



/ 



Kellogg- Baxter Ptg. Co., I 1 I W. 8th St. 
Kansas City, Mo 



«7 
©CU288841 



THIS book is dedicated to the American hog raiser 
and is written for the express purpose of enabling 
him to make his own serum and vaccinate his own hogs 
therewith, all previous information written on this sub- 
ject having been too technical and complex to achieve 
such result. 

The Author. 



CHAPTER I. 

INTRODUCTION, 

The prevention and cure of disease by inoculation is a 
subject which in recent years has engaged the attention 
of leading scientific men of the world. Anti-toxic serums 
are being used with varying success in the treatment of 
diphtheria, typhoid fever, etc., and are growing in favor 
in the profession. Much has been accomplished and 
much is hoped for in controlling and eventually eradi- 
cating many diseases which have been the scourge of 
humanity. 

Anti-toxic serums are being successfully used also 
in the prevention and cure of diseases among the 
lower animals. By far the most important discovery 
along this line is that of anti-hog cholera serum. 

Hog cholera made its first appearance as an epi- 
demic in the United States in 1833 in the state of Ohio. 
Since that time it has existed continuously in some 
part of the United States, claiming for its victims 
thousands of animals and exacting from twenty-five to 
forty million dollars from the people every year. It 
is a greater factor in the finances of this country than 
any other known pestilence of man or beast. Pork 
is high because the hog is scarce and the hog is scarce 
because the hog raiser refuses to cope with an unseen 
enemy that lays waste his labors and wreaks ruin 
without warning. Not infrequently has the satisfied 
farmer looked with pride on his herd at night to find 
the animals dead and dying at their troughs in the 
morning. C. E. Sutton, president of the Kansas State 



Board of Agriculture, said in an interview in the Kan- 
sas City Star: "In the year 19-08 I lost 133 hogs from 
my herd while over the state the loss must have been 
two millions of dollars. I have seen hogs walk over 
to troughs, eat and fall over dead. One neighbor was 
looking at his herd just before he went to bed and 
remarked what a fine healthy lot of hogs he had. When 
he came out to feed them he found fifteen dead." — 
(Kansas City Star, Nov. 26, 1909.) 

The result is that the bankrupt hog raiser changes 
his business. According to the Agricultural Depart- 
ment, in the year 1909, 54,147,000 hogs were raised in 
the United States, and in the year 1910, only 47>782,000 
were raised. 

The scientific world is wholly in the dark as to 
what hog cholera really is. The germ — if it is a germ — 
has never been filtered by the finest filters yet invented 
and has never been seen under the strongest microscope 
known to man. 

The disease is found all over the world wherever 
swine are known to exist, and strange to say, it is 
found in no other animal than the hog, nor is it com- 
municable to other animals. It has been wrongly 
named hog cholera as it bears no resemblance to cholera 
in man and has no characteristics of the disease of the 
Orient. It is a disease which attacks the lungs and 
intestines and its most marked characteristic is the 
internal hemorrhage or blood spots. 

How Transmitted^ 

The extremely contagious nature of the disease 
makes it a fearful enemy and the farmer who walks 
across his neighbor's feed lot where there is the least 
trace of the germ may carry upon his feet enough con- 
tagion to lay low his own herd. The dog which comes 
upon a friendly visit carries about him an infection 



harmless to himself, but which means death to the 
swine about the place and to every hog which may be 
brought to feed in the germ-infested place thereafter. 
How rapidly the germ must multiply is incalculable. 
Almost every railroad shipping pen passed in what is 
known as the "Great Corn Belt," is alive with the death 
dealing enemy. Every stock yards is a hot-bed of con- 
tagion to such an extent that states have passed laws 
prohibiting hogs being taken from the stock yards to 
be fattened and resold, as are cattle and sheep. Hence 
the "closed market for stock hogs," condemning, each 
hog that enters its gates to die by the packer's knife be- 
fore the disease claims it for a victim.* 

However, the disease has not wrought its havoc in 
the United States, at least, without earnest endeavor and 
constant diligence on the part of the Government offi- 
cials to eradicate it. Though fighting an unseen enemy 
science through practical experiments has found the 
means of preventing the dread disease, though it is yet 
to be learned how to cope with the malady once it has 
attacked its victim. In 1876 the scientist Pasteur at- 
tempted to make a vaccine to lessen the virulence of 
the germ as in the treatment of anthrax in cattle, but 
was unsuccessful. In 1878 the United States Congress 
appropriated $10,000 and a Dr. Salmon, then Chief of 
the Bureau of Animal Industry, and a Dr. Law, devoted 
their energies in attempting to lessen the virulence of 
the germ by transmitting it to horses and to other 
animals. Numerous other appropriations were made 
and much experimenting carried on all over the country, 
but no satisfactory results were accomplished until Dr. 
Marion Dorset, of the Bureau of Animal Industry, per- 



*8ince the discovery of anti-hog cholera serum the 
state of ^Kansas permits hogs to be taken from the stock 
yards to quarantined yards (yards where they can be fed 
for a time and then returned to the stock yai-ds). 



fected the serum as now used along entirely different 
lines from the treatment formerly attempted. He 
does not attempt to lessen the power of the germ, but 
strengthens the resisting power of the hog. Into the 
blood of the hog serum is injected. This serum is made 
up of the blood of a hog which is not only immune to 
cholera but into which new cholera germs have been 
injected so that the corpuscles are in fighting array. 
These fighting corpuscles are injected into the hog and 
at the same time cholera germs are put in the hog either 
by injecting cholera blood, and thus giving the animal 
a light form of the disease, or by exposing him to chol- 
era. The fighting corpuscles in the serum act as 
policemen, as it were, and help the white corpuscles 
naturally in the hog's blood to drive out the poisonous 
germs. The corpuscles in the serum have been well 
called "veterans" in the fight with cholera germs. In 
short, the hog is given or contracts a light form of the 
disease and the resisting power in the serum over- 
comes the disease and the hog is then immune to chol- 
era. Simple enough, but who but a genius could have 
evolved the theory and proved its worth? When the 
hog has taken cholera before the serum is injected it is 
too late. The cholera germs are too numerous, they 
win the battle and the hog dies. The serum is not an 
infallible cure, but numerous tests have proved beyond 
a doubt that as a preventive it is entirely reliable when 
properly administered, and the value of Dr. Dorset's dis- 
covery cannot be overestimated. 

Introduction of Anti-Hog Cholera Serum 

* To the Public. 

During the epidemic of hog cholera in the latter part 
of the seventies the states of Kansas and Missouri each 
appropriated thousands of dollars for the purpose of 
trying to eradicate the disease. Experts were sent to 



the live stock centers, all to no purpose. During this 
time the writer was engaged in the breeding of fancy 
hogs and experimented extensively in attempts to find 
a cholera preventive or cure, employing an eminent spe- 
cialist to make post-mortem examinations, but all with- 
out any good results. He has been engaged in the hog 
business ever since and has followed with keen interest 
the efforts which have been made along this line and 
witnessed the failures resulting. To his personal 
knowledge no definite results had been secured towards 
checking the disease prior to Dr. Dorset's discovery. 
During all these years hog breeders and shippers had 
vainly endeavored to find some means which would 
make it possible to take hogs from the stock yards to 
the country to be fattened and resold. 

After the discovery of anti-hog cholera serum, a 
number of men began buying hogs in the Kansas City 
Stock Yards, vaccinating them and taking them to 
quarantine yards in Kansas with but little or no loss, 
except when hogs had been exposed several days previ- 
ous to vaccination. I saw the matter tested frequently 
and became convinced that if hogs could be made im- 
mune in the Kansas City Stock Yards, a hot-bed of 
contagion, they could be made immune anywhere, and 
conceived the idea of making a public demonstration 
in order to convince the people at large of the prac- 
ticability of using the serum. I took the matter up 
with Secretary James Wilson at Washington and Hon. 
Charles F. Scott, then Chairman of the Committee on 
Agriculture. The following letter is one of many com- 
munications received relative to the matter: 



S.«rvfi »»TCo ««»m 

4>«<ill> i<<JH.P.N, .0.«l«»«-\ 
#1UIA» W.COCO.N.V. JOHN LAM* 

fel»H COI..OMI0 A».U«» F 



#ie»»»».Mict»«o.ci.i»« 



Dear Mr. Peters: 



$SWtt<M9fc»t.9).'€. 



Yours of June 7th is just received and I have read 
it with great interest. I believe you are right in your 
opinion that a demonstration at Kansas City would 
attact attention all over the country and be of ines- 
timable value. It would certainly be a ten-strike if, as 
a result of it, Kansas City could be made an open mar- 
ket for stock hogs as it is for stock cattle I shall 
carry your letter over to the Department and discuss 
it with the Secretary the very first hour I can get 
away, and let you know the result. 
Sincerely yours, 



&w^M^ 



The interest thus created among the department 
officials resulted in what proved to be one of the most 
remarkable and convincing demonstrations ever made. 
This demonstration was made by Dr. W. B. Niles, head 
of the Government Experimental Station at Ames, Iowa. 

At the time of the test the Kansas City Star printed 
a detailed account which was copied by thousands of 
other papers in the United States and Europe. A 
portion of the article follows: 

"Of a poison squad of thirty-five hogs, thirteen of 
which were not immunized at the beginning of the 
test, died, and the twenty-two which were so treated 
were perfectly healthy. The twenty-two hogs were sub- 



jected to every conceivable form of exposure to cholera 
and the thirteen which succumbed to the disease died 
in the pens with the twenty-two at various times dur- 
ing the process of the tests. The carcasses of the dead 
hogs were permitted to remain in the pens with the 
immunized animals, sometimes two or three days. 
Every opportunity was given the twenty-two to succumb 
to the disease. Under normal conditions every hog 
would be dead. The fact that twenty-two did not die 
is absolute proof, those wiio conducted the test de- 
clare, that the serum is an unfailing preventive of 
hog cholera." 

The Drovers Telegram had the following to say: 
"The discovery of this immunizing agent is perhaps 
the most useful service that veterinary science has 
rendered live stock and the world. * * * Further- 
more and most significant will be the convenience of 
inoculating feeding hogs,, which eventually will be al- 
lowed to go to any part of the country as healthy feed- 
ing cattle go now. That will be the best triumph 
of the serum after all." 

The results of this public test more than justified 
the hopes of those who inaugurated it. The farmers 
and hog raisers eagerly welcomed a means so thor- 
oughly, convincingly, and scientifically demonstrated, 
and bearing the stamp of Government approval. 

Similar tests made at other stock centers were 
equally successful. Innumerable tests have been made . 
by the agricultural colleges of the various states and 
with one accord it is agreed that if the farmers and 
hog raisers were to have their herds, including every 
unweaned pig born upon their farms, vaccinated, the 
terrible scourge would be wiped off the face of the 
earth. 

The demand for the serum far exceeds the possible 
production. In addition to the limited supply which 



can be produced at the agricultural colleges several 
private companies have been formed for the manufac- 
ture and sale of serum. 

The Hog Raiser Must Protect Himself. 

It is as necessary that the hog raiser fortify him- 
self against loss by the disease as it is that the business 
man insure his property against loss by fire. But 
however desirous he may be to protect himself he stands 
a poor chance to do so when the total amount of serum 
supplied by the agricultural colleges and private firms 
would not supply serum for the hogs in twelve counties 
in Kansas. The supply made by the state agricultural 
colleges must necessarily be limited because of the 
enormous cost of serum production away from packing 
centers. The useless sacrifice of hogs makes the cost 
of manufacture at the colleges so great as to preclude 
the possibility of a general distribution. The alterna- 
tive is, the farmer or hog raiser must have the serum 
himself. 

The practical farmer is entirely capable of making 
his own serum and vaccinating his own hogs. This 
is being demonstrated every day by hog men in many 
parts of the country who do so successfully. Hog feed- 
ers near Kansas City are making their own serum 
and vaccinating their own hogs. One man is feeding 
more than four thousand immunized hogs which he 
bred, raised and immunized with serum of his own 
manufacture. A great many of his hogs were shipped 
to the stock yards, purchased by other persons, and 
actually fattened from corn left in the infected pens 
without a hog showing any symptoms whatever of chol- 
era. Hogs not immunized, shipped in from the coun- 
try and subjected to like treatment would all die with 
cholera within a few weeks. One of the largest manu- 
facturers of serum at the Kansas City Stock Yards 



employs a yard hand to make the serum, vaccinate 
hogs and to perform many of the other duties incidental 
to the business. He has acquired his knowledge merely 
from watching others do the work. Neither of these 
men possesses any greater medical or scientific 
knowledge than the average farmer and if they can 
make serum and successfully vaccinate hogs, other hog 
raisers can do the same. 



When Vaccination With Anti-Hog Cholera Serum Fails. 



Failure may result when hogs are vaccinated after 
they have already been exposed to cholera, even though 
they are apparently well. Many times after vaccination 
the hogs sicken and die and the vaccination is blamed, 
when in reality the herd has previously been exposed 
to the disease, perhaps before purchased, in the loading 
or unloading pens or in transit. Usually men wait un- 
til some of their hogs are sick before vaccinating and 
on a farm many animals may be saved if treated, even 
after a few die, because they are running at large and 
all are not inoculated with the disease at the same time, 
so that the vaccination takes place with some before 
many germs are in the system and thus the serum 
can overcome them, but the proper time to vaccinate 
is before the disease appears at all. 

In some instances the serum is spoiled before it 
is used. It cannot be exposed to heat and air. If a part 
of a bottle of serum is used the rest of the serum is use- 
less and must not be used later. Sometimes the cholera 
blood is injected after it is more than twenty-four hours 
old. Sometimes a wrong diagnosis is made in obtaining 
cholera blood and the blood of animals suffering from 
some disease other than cholera is used. Then, too, 
sanitation is not always properly observed. The 



strictest observance of sterilization and the free use of 
antiseptics are most imperative. 

The act of vaccination is simple and can be learned 
by a ten-year-old boy; — nothing complicated about it, 
and if the instructions in this book are carefully fok 
lowed your hogs will be saved, which is the object 
desired. 



CHAPTER II. 
MAKING OF ANTI-HOG CHOLERA SERUM. 

In the beginning let it be thoroughly understood 
that anti-hog cholera serum is a preventive and not 
a cure. The hog is vaccinated against cholera as man 
is vaccinated against smallpox. Anti-hog cholera se- 
rum will keep indefinitely when it is sealed properly 
and kept in a cool place, and it should be kept at hand 
in small quantities for use when necessary. Every 
unweaned pig should be made permanently immune. 
The vaccination of four weeks old pigs should be as 
much a part of the farmer's routine as any other 
necessary care of his stock. The serum can be ob- 
tained from any reliable company and kept for use, 
but the expense is as needless to the hog raiser as 
the purchase of feed is to the farmer. After the hog 
raiser has once made his serum he will consider it as 
much a part of his business to keep a supply of "home 
made serum" on hand for use, as the farmer considers 
it his business to grow sufficient corn for his milk 
cows. 

Anti-hog cholera serum is made from the blood of 
a hyper-immune hog. That is the blood of an immune 
hog into which cholera blood has been injected. The 
hog must be absolutely immune to cholera, that is he 
must have had cholera and recovered, or have been 
made immune by vaccination. Into this immune hog 
is injected a quantity of cholera blood and about ten 
days later he is hyper-immune and his blood may be 
drawn for serum. The fact that a hog can thus be 



made artificially immune proves beyond question that 
the serum prevents cholera, otherwise a hog after be- 
ing injected with cholera blood would inevitably suc- 
cumb to the disease. If a hog which has had cholera 
and recovered is not available it will be necessary to 
make an immune by vaccination. 

As has been stated there are two cases to be con- 
sidered in the making of anti-hog cholera serum. The 
first, where a naturally immune hog is available, that 
is, a hog which has had cholera and recovered; and the 
second, where it is necessary to make an immune. The 
second process, that of making the immune, is more 
complicated. Therefore, it is more practical to secure 
a natuarally immune hog if possible* 

In selecting the immune hog or the one to be made 
immune it is best to choose one weighing about one 
hundred and fifty pounds. As the hog is bled from the 
tail, and about half an inch cut off at each bleeding, 
choose one with a long tail, so that three or four bleed- 
ings can be made. 

The person who cannot procure an immune hog 
can obtain the serum and cholera blood for making one 
from a reliable serum company. The process of making 
this immune is described beginning on Page 34. under 
"Simultaneous Injection." 

TO MAKE ANTI-HOG CHOLERA SERUM AFTER AN 
IMMUNE HOG IS PROCURED. 

After the immune hog is procured the only thing 
necessary for making serum is a quart of cholera blood 
and the necessary instruments and antiseptics. 



*lt is seldom difficult to secure an immune hog as 
many farmers have, one or more hogs which have re- 
covered from cholera. 



Obtaining Cholera Blood For Hyper-Immunizing. 

The word hyper-immunize sounds rather technical 
but it merely means the injection of cholera blood into 
an immune hog, after which process the hog is hyper- 
immune and serum can only be made from the blood of 
a hyper-immune hog. 

After the hog which is known to be absolutely im- 
mune is selected^ the next step is to secure a quart 
of cholera blood. The importance of care in obtain- 
ing cholera blood cannot be too strongly emphasized. 
It may be bought from a reliable serum company and 
shipped, but since no preservative for it has been 
found and it will not keep more than thirty-six 
hours, it is very much safer to secure the blood locally 
and cholera being as prevalent as it is, this can usually 
be done. It is absolutely necessary that the cholera 
blood be secured from a hog with acute cholera so that 
the germ may be of the highest virulence, and under no 
circumstances can the blood be used after it is thirty- 
six hours old. It must be kept cold, preferably upon ice; 
it must not be contaminated with outside germs through 
uncleanliness or carelessness; it must be absolutely un- 
spoiled (which means it must never be allowed to get 
too warm), and positively it must be cholera blood. 

In obtaining the cholera hog, therefore, to be bled 
to death for the quart of blood, an absolute recognition 
of the disease is necessary. It can readily be seen how 
useless and perhaps fatal an injection of blood from a 
hog suffering with any other malady, such as pneu- 
monia, tuberculosis, etc., would be. 

Complications with other diseases and the varying 
symptoms of hog cholera might result in a wrong 
diagnosis, but its highly contagious characteristic is an 
unfailing symptom of hog cholera. Usually one or two 
sick hogs appear in a herd and in a short time many 
of the hogs are attacked. 

16" 



There are two types of the disease, chronic and 
acute, the difference being in the degree of virulence 
of the germ and in the power of resistance of the ani- 
mals. The blood from a hog with chronic cholera is 
not of sufficient strength for immunization. In the 
acute form the animals die suddenly after a short ill- 
ness. The fever runs high from 106 to 107 degrees. 
The normal temperature of a hog is 103 degrees. It is 
necessary that the animal be killed when the fever is 
high. The short duration of the disease necessitates 
quick action in order to secure blood in proper con- 
dition. In some cases the hogs die within a few hours 
with no characteristic symptoms other than would re- 
sult from a malignant disease of any kind. In other 
cases there is diarrhoea, sluggishness, sometimes vom- 
iting and occasionally nosebleed, loss of appetite, a 
gumming of the eyes, sometimes the eyes becoming en- 
tirely closed, and dark red or purplish blotches may be 
seen on the skin of the belly and inside of the legs. 

In the chronic form the characteristics are much 
the same excepting that the animal lives several weeks, 
becoming very emaciated and weak and finally staggers 
as he walks, the hind quarters wabbling from side to 
side. Sometimes the chronic cases develope a cough 
and breathing is labored. These cases must be studi- 
ously avoided in selecting the cholera specimen as no 
mild or chronic case will answer the purpose. 

The diseases most easily confounded with acute 
cholera are pneumonia and occasionally anthrox. A 
close discrimination, however, will disclose that pneu- 
monia does not spread from one hog to another as in 
cholera. Several hogs or the whole herd may have con- 
tracted the disease at the same time from the same 
cause, such as sudden changes of the weather or ex- 
posure in shipment. But the disease does not spread 
from one animal to another as in a contagion. 
Anthroax occurs very rarely in hogs, the characteristic 

17 



which distinguishes it from acute hog cholera being 
a swelling of the throat and tongue and sometimes a 
bloody froth at the mouth. 

Symptoms are, however, so varied and so often 
characteristic of other diseases it can readily be seen 
how important a post-mortem examination is after ex- 
tracting the blood. 

Method of Extracting Cholera Blood. 

For this operation a liberal supply of antiseptic 
solution, sterilized gauze, a glass or granite vessel, two 
knives and a tablespoon, all thoroughly sterilized, and 
a short piece of rope, are the only necessary imple- 
ments. The antiseptic may be a solution of bichloride 
of mercury and water, (the bichloride of mercury com- 
ing in tablet form, with directions on the bottle, a 25 
cent bottle being sufficient), or a 5 per cent solution 
of carbolic acid, which must be mixed by the druggist* 

As both are highly poisonous, care must be taken in 
their use. These and the antiseptic gauze, for straining 
the blood, may be procured at any drug store. The glass 
or granite vessel for catching the blood must be thor- 
oughly sterilized. Submerge the vessel, together with 
the knives and spoons, in water in which has been put a 
few spoonfuls of the antiseptic, and bring to a boil and 
boil them for thirty minutes. Let the vessel cool in the 
water to avoid breaking. The knives, which must be 
sharp, should have blades at least three inches long, 
the ordinary butcher knife will answer the purpose. Too 
much emphasis cannot be laid upon the importance of 
sterilization as the blood must be in no way contain- 

*Buy one gallon of 5 per cent carbolic acid solution, 
if no bichloride of mercury is used, using about one 
quart at this operation, but if bichloride is used, buy one 
quart of 5 per cent carbolic acid solution to use later. 

18 




Method of tying 
the hog for the 
final bleeding for 
serum. 

This method of 
tying also used 
in bleeding of 
Cholera hog. 



19 



inated and all danger of blood poisoning rigorously 
avoided. 

Have all implements in readiness before the hog is 
selected, having two or three receptacles of antiseptic at 
hand. The hands must be dipped frequently in the 
antiseptic during the operation and care must be taken 
that there are no abrasions on the skin of the hands. 
The animal may be suffering from some disease com- 
municable to man through a cut or scratch. 

Let it be understood that the hog is alive. Tie the 
ends of a short rope to the hind legs and hang the ani- 
mal at a convenient height for operating, raising by 
means of a block and tackle, if possible. Tie the front 
legs securely back of the head. This is most readily 
done by making a slip knot in the end of a rope and 
tying one front leg. The rope, which should be about 
two feet long after the leg is tied, is passed over the 
hogs head back of the ears and securely fastened to 
the other leg. Tighten by twisting the rope with a 
stick in the middle. (See Illustration No. 1.) This 
method of tying the hog is very important, as it pre- 
vents the hog's kicking and spilling the blood as it is 
caught. Wash with soap and water the under side of 
the animal to prevent dust particles from falling into 
the blood. With one knife shave the throat as clean 
as possible. Wash the shaven portion with the anti- 
septic solution. Then with the other knife stick the hog 
in the throat about an inch from the breast bone thrust- 
ing the knife in and then up. Thus the jugular 
vein is pierced, and the hog gradually bleeds to 
death. Take great care not to pierce the 
wind pipe. If this mistake is made a large 
portion of the blood gushes from the animal's nose 
and mouth and being thus contaminated is useless. 
Catch the blood in the granite or glass vessel, whipping 
vigorously with the spoon as the blood comes from the 
animal. Continue whipping after the blood is caught 



until it has thoroughly cooled and coagulation 
ceased. The blood should be covered until after the 
post-mortem examination when it should be strained 
through the sterilized gauze into a sterilized receptacle. 
It is best that the hands do not come in contact with 
the blood, but if from improper whipping the liquid por- 
tion of the blood has not separated from the fiber it 
may be necessary to squeeze with the hands the clot 
which has formed, being careful to have dipped the 
hands in an antiseptic just previously. Keep the blood 
covered in a cool place free from dust. 

Post Mortem Examination. 

A post-mortem examination is absolutely necessary 
in order to determine definitely whether or not the blood 
just drawn is that of an acute cholera hog and so fit for 
use. The examination must be made as soon after 
death as possible before any changes of decomposition 
begin. This necessitates the examination being made 
before the blood is strained. The hog is taken down 
and laid on his back. Examine the skin and belly for 
dark red or purple blotches, which if present, are indica- 
tive of cholera. Make a very shallow cut in the skin and 
underlying fat the entire length of the body from the 
point of the chin through the chest and belly to the 
tail, being careful not to cut any of the internal or- 
gans. Peel the skin and fat back and examine the 
lymph glands about the angle of the lower jaw. In 
the normal hog these are of a grayish color. Take out 
these glands and cut them crosswise, and generally in 
the acute cholera hog they are dark red or black. Ob- 
serve in the same manner the glands of the flank. How- 
ever, the hog may be suffering with cholera and the 
glands still be normal. Cholera is not always indi- 
cated in these glands . 

Pull back the skin on the chest and expose the ribs. 

21 



(No. II) 




Location of Organs Which may be Affected by Hog Cholera 



22 



Cut out the breast bone, cutting towards the head, cut 
the skin crosswise to each leg and press open the car- 
cass, great care being taken not to injure the internal 
organs. (See Illustration No _ 

The normal lungs are pink and soft and collapse 
when the chest cavity is opened. Generally in acute 
cholera they are dark and the surface is covered with 
numerous small red spots which cannot be washed off. 
Frequently a straw-colored, cheesy, coagulated foul- 
smelling pus covers one or both lungs. 

Examine for spots of hemorrhage the kidney and 
spleen (melt) where they are before removing. Take out 
the spleen and examine more closely. The 
healthy spleen is light, almost pink in color. In the 
majority of cases of cholera the spleen is larger and 
darker than the normal. Raised red spots may be 
found on the surface, especially underneath and the 
organ is soft when squeezed with thumb and fingers. 

Remove the kidneys and carefully pull away the 
fiberous sack in which they are enclosed. Normally 
they are a light brown color, Occasionally there is a 
cholera hog with no indication on the kidneys, but this 
is most infrequent. Usually the kidney is darker and 
has blood spots scattered over the surface, the specks 
varying from one or two to a countless number. When 
pressed with the thumb and fingers the blood does not 
disappear temporarily as the fingers are lifted, and re- 
turn again. The cholera "blood spot" remains the same 
and the blood can not be squeezed away temporarily. 
Cut the kidney open lengthwise and examine for blood 
clots. If the post-mortem is not made immediately after 
death and the kidney allowed to remain several hours 
in the animal before examination, clotted blood will 
greatly resemble cholera blood spots. 

If one or more of these organs, lungs, kidneys, or 
spleen are as described the blood is that of an acute 
cholera hog and so fit for use for vaccinations. Let it 

23 



be remembered that the blood points of hemorrhage 
which can not be squeezed or washed away are charac- 
teristic of cholera and are seldom if ever found in other 
hog diseases. 

Hyper-immunizing. 

As has already been stated, hyper-immunizing 
means injecting cholera blood into an immune hog. As 
the cholera blood has been strained and the immune 
hog selected the next operation is to inject the cholera 
blood into the immune hog. One thousand cubic 
centimeters or one quart of cholera blood should 
be used for hyper-immunizing a hog weighing from 100 
to 150 pounds. There are three different methods that 
may be employed in hyper-immunizing. One in which 
the blood is injected by means of an especially con- 
structed instrument into the vein of the hog's ear; an- 
other in which the blood is injected into the abdominal 
cavity; and another in which the blood is injected 
through the skin by means of a hypodermic syringe. As 
it has been found by experience that the last method, 
that of injecting the cholera blood under the skin, is 
the most practical, this method alone will be treated 
in this text. 

There are two methods of injecting the cholera 
blood through the skin, one in which there are three 
injections, a week apart, which is tedious and involves 
the unnecessary difficulty of procuring cholera blood 
three times, and one in which one injection is used 
which method alone is here considered, it being simpler 
and more practical.* 

The instrument to be used in hyper-immunizing is 

*Some authorities disagree, out it has been proved 
that this method is more practical and quite as suc- 
cessful. 

24 



(No. Ill) 




Method of Tying for Hyper-immunizing 



a hypodermic syringe, holding 25 cubic cen- 
timeters. It is graduated in cubic centimeters marked 
on the piston of the syringe. On the piston there is a 
set-screw which secures an adjustment of the instru- 
ment so as to inject a desired quantity of liquid. The 
cylinder is of glass. The hypodermic needles, which 
are provided with the syringe, must slip into place on 
the instrument instead of screwing on as is the case 
with some hypodermic syringes. .Each instrument must 
be thoroughly cleansed before using by being dipped into 
the antiseptic solution and filled and emptied several 
times with the solution. Sterilize another glass or gran- 
ite vessel to be used for holding the cholera blood as 
needed during the operation. The same kind of antisep- 
tic which was used in the operation of bleeding for chol- 
era blood must be used freely in the process of vac- 
cination. 

As the hog must be held as still as possible during 
the operation it is very necessary that it be tied prop- 
erly. Tie a slip knot in each end of an inch rope 2V 2 
feet in length. Throw the hog on his side with his back 
to a wall or fence or any solid structure. Slip the slip- 
knot in one end of the rope over the front leg which is 
not on the ground, and the other over the hind leg which 
is not on the ground. Put this rope over the hook of a 
block and tackle and raise the animal until his body 
barely rests on the ground, thus preventing his lower 
feet from thus getting a foothold. (See Illustration 
No. 3.) 

If a block and tackle cannot be obtained for this 
operation tie the rope to the upper front leg, pass the 
rope over a post, then tie the upper hind leg with the 
other end of the rope having the rope just long enough 
so that the animal's body barely rests on the ground. 
Now tie a rope around through the mouth and over 
the upper jaw and nose, and then tie the other end 
of the rope to some nearby object, so as to raise the 

26 



head slightly from the ground. If the animal is tied in 
this manner it will be found that little inconvenience 
will result from his struggling. 

Pour a small quantity of cholera blood into the ster- 
ilized glass or granite vessel and in another vessel of 
the same kind have at hand a liberal supply of antisep- 
tic. Fill and unload the syringe with the antiseptic 
before using. 

With clean water and soap wash thoroughly the 
inner sides of all four legs and the under part of the 
neck of the hog. With the antiseptic solution wash this 
same surface. Pill the syringe with cholera blood be- 
fore the needle is attached, taking care to allow no air 
to enter. 

To hyper-immunize it is necessary to use for a hog 
125 to 150 pounds in weight, 1,000 cubic centimeters or 
one quart of cholera blood; that means forty syringes 
full of blood if the syringe is of 25 cubic centimeter 
capacity. To avoid making so many insertions of 
needles, two syringes full may be injected into the 
same place without removing the needle. These should 
be scattered over the surface of the hog as follows: 
About ten injections into the inside of each ham, eight 
under each shoulder and four in the neck, two on each 
side between shoulder and jaw about six inches back 
from center of neck. 

Insert the needle- first, then fix the syringe 
on the needle and inject the blood. Without mov- 
ing the needle inject another syringe full in 
the same way. Remove the needle and squeeze the 
aperture made by the needle several times to prevent 
the blood from running out. Proceed in the same man- 
ner refilling the syringe until twenty insertions of the 
needle have been made and forty syringes full of blood 
have been injected. The insertions of the needle should 
be at least iy 2 inches apart. While great care should 

17 



be exercised that the needle does not strike a bone, 
it must be deep enough to penetrate the skin and should 
a lump form as the blood is injected, the needle is not 
deep enough and should be pushed a little deeper and 
the lump squeezed out with the fingers. After every few 
injections the syringe and needle should be washed out 
with antiseptic by loading and unloading with anti- 
septic. After all forty injections have been made, wash 
the surface again thoroughly with antiseptic solution. 
Place the hog in a clean, dry, disinfected pen where he 
will have access to plenty of water. The only after ef- 
fects of hyper-immunizing will probably be a slight ris- 
ing of temperature and possible loss of appetite for a 
day. 

Sometimes even if all sanitary precautions are taken 
lumps will form on the inside of the animal's hams and 
under the shoulders. These should be opened and the 
matter squeezed out. The incision should be made tri- 
angular so the pus will run out before the wound is 
healed. In opening the abscesses, especially under the 
shoulders, do not cut crosswise of ligaments or cords. 

Bleeding the Hyper-immuned Hog for Serum. 

A week or ten days after hyper-immunizing the hog, 
if he appears well and hearty he must be bled for serum. 
He may be bled three times from the tail and then 
killed and the blood caught, or he may be bled from the 
tail four times and re-hyper-immunized. 

However, the best plan is to bleed him three times 
from the tail, at intervals of a week apart, 
then kill, catching the blood and making a 
post mortem of the carcass. By this method an ex- 
amination of the internal organs determines whether 
the hog is suffering from any disease and thus a further 
safeguard is placed upon the serum. If no disease is 
indicated the serum is ready for use and the butchered 
animal is suitable for pork. 



(Vo. IV) 




Holes in Ends of Table Through Which Ropes arc 
Passed in Tying Hog on Table for Bleeding from Tail. 



There are two ways of securely fastening the hyper- 
immuned hog for bleeding. The method commonly in 
use is to tie the animal on a table. This table which is 
about five feet long, three feet wide and three feet high 
has holes bored in the end braces between the legs. (See 
Illustration Xo. 4 1 . When the hog has been lifted on 
the table, ropes are tied to each of the animal's legs, 
passed through the holes of the table and securely fas- 
tened, holding the animal, his legs rigid, on his belly. 

The other method is to fasten the animal in a crate 
and this is more practical and more humane, especially 
with a heavy hog. The crate should be just large enough 
to hold the hog and should be made of strong material 
with a slide at the end, which shuts down to within six 
inches of the floor of the crate. The crate is elevated 
about two feet. An incline for running the hog into 
the crate is built in such a way that it may be removed 
when the animal is enclosed. When the hog has been 
driven into the crate and the slide fastened, pass two 
strong boards through the openings, put them on the 
hog's back and using them as levers pry down upon 
the hog's back. In a few moments he will lie down. 
Fasten him in this position by passing boards through 
the openings in the sides of the crate. This has been 
found much the easier and more practical way of secur- 
ing the hyper-immuune hog for bleeding. (See Illustra- 
tion No. 5). 

Extreme sanitary precautions are necessary during 
the operations of bleeding for serum; all vessels and 
instruments must be thoroughly sterilized — a glass or 
porcelain vessel, a large spoon or fork, antiseptic gauze, 
and knife or chisel. A liberal supply of antiseptic must 
be at hand. The crate should be covered with a clean 
cloth, a hole having been cut, through which the tail is 
slipped. The tail should now be washed with soap and 
water and then shaved with a sharp knife. After the tail 
is shaved it should be washed with antiseptic. The hands 

30 



(No. V) 




Hog in Crate, Ready for Bleeding from the Tail. 



of the person extracting the blood must be washed with 
the antiseptic. The tail should be cut about a quarter of 
an inch from the end unless the end is hard, if so it 
should be cut above the hard place. The flow of blood 
is more profuse when a thin long beveled chisel is 
used for severing the tail, though a thin knife may an- 
swer the purpose. Place the tail on a block which has 
been washed with antiseptic, place the blade across the 
tail and strike with a clean hammer, being sure to cut 
the tail square across in order that a good flow of blood 
may be obtained. 

Have a piece of sterilized gauze tied over the top 
of the vessel for catching the blood — a fruit jar or milk 
bottle will answer the purpose. A hole should have 
been cut to allow the admission of the tail and another 
for the fork or spoon. As the blood is drawn it should 
be whipped constantly with the fork or spoon. The 
stirring prevents clotting and causes the fiber to gather 
together. This will save much trouble when the blood 
is strained. The amount of blood to be taken depends 
upon the weight of the animal. About a pint and a half 
may be drawn from a hog weighing 100 pounds, about 
a quart from a 150 pound hog, etc. However, much de- 
pends upon the condition of the animal; a thin hog will 
probably stand less bleeding than a fat one. When the 
proper amount of blood has been drawn the tail should 
be tied with a cord. Cut the string close to knot and 
wash in antiseptic. Care should be taken to tie the 
tail securely as there is danger of the animal bleeding 
to death, especially if the hog is small and the flow of 
blood profuse. The hog should be noticed for a few 
days to see whether the tail bleeds, if so he must be 
caught and the tail retied. 

In this manner the hog is bled three times at in- 
tervals of a week apart in the same manner, each time 
cutting about one-half inch from the tail, getting the 
same quantity of blood. After each bleeding the blood 

32 



is strained through a sterilized cloth and in order to 
preserve the serum, mix with it a certain quantity of 
the 5 per cent carbolic acid solution. It is mixed in the 
proportion of 7 to 93; for instance, to a quart of the 
serum, or 1,000 cubic centimeters, there must be added 
75 cubic centimeters or three syringes full of carbolic 
acid solution and great care must be exercised in using 
the proper quantity. Pour the solution gradually into 
the serum, stirring thoroughly as you pour. Put into 
sterilized bottles and cork and seal. 

One week after the third drawing of serum the 
animal may be killed and his blood caught for serum 
or he may be re-hyper-immunized. However, it is rec- 
ommended that he be bled to death that a post mortem 
may be made to further determine the purity of all the 
serum caught. 

Final Catching of Blood. 

The blood is caught just as it is from a cholera 
hog as previously described. (See Page 18.) After the 
hog is bled the last time a post mortem examination 
should be made also as previously described. The serum 
is now ready for use. It must be air tight and must 
be kept in a cool place to prevent spoiling.* 

* After having made the serum some persons might 
desire to test its efficiency before using it on a herd. To 
do so vaccinate one or more pigs with the serum and 
turn them into a lot where there is cholera. 



CHAPTER III. 

VACCINATION FOR CHOLERA PREVENTION. 

There are two methods of vaccination known as the 
Simultaneous Injection Method and the Simple Injec- 
tion Method. 

The first method, that of simultaneous injection, or 
injection of serum and cholera blood at the same time, 
is attended with some clanger, and should be used only 
by the hog raiser and not by the feeder. 

Unweaned pigs should however be vaccinated by 
the simultaneous method and remember that unless the 
sow is immune she must be vaccinated at the same time 
but very preferably by the. simple method, which will 
be described later. 

Simultaneous Injection. 

The instruments to be used are two hypodermic 
syringes, one holding from 20 to 30 cubic centimeters 
and the other 10 cubic centimeters, furnished with slip 
needles. The instruments are sterilized as has been de- 
scribed and plenty of antiseptic must be at hand. (As 
described on Page 18.) 

The services of two persons are necessary for the 
operation, one to hold the animal and the other to use 
the syringes. 

Syringes must be frequently loaded and unloaded 
with antiseptic. The vessels for holding serum must 
have been previously sterilized. (Do not use tin). Into 
one pour a small quantity of serum and into the other 
a small quantity of cholera blood. Keep all vessels 



(Vol. VI) 



Method of Holding Shoats 
and Lightweight Hogs for 
Vaccination. Point x shows 
where needle is placed. 




covered when not actually in use. Load larger instru- 
ment with serum and smaller with cholera hlood, with 
needles unattached. If air enters syringes, unload and 
refill. If air is injected into the animal lumps or ab- 
scesses will form. 

Hogs are vaccinated according to weight, 30 cubic 
centimeters of serum to the 100 pounds. For instance, 
for an animal weighing 150 pounds about 45 cubic cen- 
timeters of serum, for one weighing 200 pounds, 60 cubic 
centimeters. Only 2 cubic centimeters of cholera blood 
are injected for hogs weighing 100 to 150 pounds.* 

Unweaned pigs should be vaccinated when about a 
month old, injecting 15 cubic centimeters of serum 
and one-half cubic centimeter of cholera blood. 

There are two ways generally used for holding the 
animals for vaccination. Pigs and shoats are caught by 
the hind legs and raised so the belly faces the operator, 
the front legs resting on the ground to lessen the weight. 
The assistant holds the hog's back against him and 
stands astride its head and front part of the body, hold- 
ing them firmly between his legs. (See Illustration 
No. 6.) 

Heavier hogs which cannot be held in this way are 
thrown down. The assistant, facing the direction in 
which the animal's legs protrude, places his knee on the 
hog's neck, holding the hind leg and the front leg which 
are not on the ground. The hind leg is held back- 
ward, keeping the hind legs well apart. (See Illustra- 
tion No. 7). With a sponge or clean cloth wash with 
antiseptic the fleshy part of the inner side of both 
thighs. Stick the needle belonging to the serum syringe 
into the place just washed, taking care not to strike the 

*Tlie man who must make his immune hog previous 
to making serum and selecting a hog weighing 150 
pounds would therefore need to buy 45 cubic centimeters 
of serum and 2 cubic centimeters of cholera blood. 



(No. VII) 




Method of Holding Heavy Hogs for Vaccination 



37 



bone, but being sure to penetrate the muscle. Put the 
syringe on the needle and slowly inject. If a lump be- 
gins to form the needle is not deep enough. Push 
farther into the flesh and squeeze the lump; in this 
way the serum is forced from the lump into the leg. 
When the proper amount of serum has been injected re- 
move the needle and pinch the wound several times to 
prevent the escaping of the serum. If the hog weighs 
over 100 pounds -inject one-half of the serum into one 
leg and the other half into the other. 

Then adjust the set-screw carefully on the syringe 
containing the cholera blood so that the proper propor- 
tion may be used. For unweaned pigs adjust the screw 
to enable the injection of one-half cubic centermeter of 
blood for each pig. For hogs weighing 100 pounds ad- 
just screw for injection of one cubic centimeter; for hogs 
weighing 150 pounds adjust for injection of two cubic 
centimeters. 

Be sure to use set screw. If too much cholera 
blood is injected in proportion to serum the hogs will 
die of cholera. Thrust the needle of the syringe contain- 
ing the cholera blood into the opposite leg from that 
into which the serum was injected, or if the serum 
injection was made in each leg. at least 2 inches away 
from the point of serum injection. In the same man- 
ner that the serum was injected inject the cholera 
blood. Remove the needle and squeeze the wound made 
by the needle to prevent the cholera blood from escap- 
ing. If by any mistake too much cholera blood should 
be injected, more serum in the proper proportion at a 
new point should be injected. Wash thoroughly with 
antiseptic solution all the wounds made by needles. The 
vaccination will produce some soreness but will inter- 
fere very little with the appetite. 



38 



SIMPLE INJECTION METHOD. 

The second method, that of simple injection (in- 
jection of serum alone) is attended with little or no 
danger. It is the method commonly in use. The state 
and veterinary colleges with scarcely an exception, use 
this method entirely. 

It is the united action of serum and the cholera 
germ which makes permanent immunity, but when the 
cholera germ may be contracted and not injected and 
the serum alone used, there is little danger attached to 
vaccination and the immunity is usually permanent. 
Should the serum be injected alone and the hogs be ab- 
solutely free from cholera germs thereafter, only a tem- 
porary immunity of a few weeks is obtained, but the 
feeder buying his hogs about the country is almost sure 
to have some exposure to the germs in loading pens, in 
transit or in the unloading pens and those in the herd 
that have not been exposed over four days can be saved 
and thus made permanently immune, or if well hogs 
are vaccinated with serum alone and turned into cholera 
infected feed lots they are protected from the disease. 
Many persons have their hogs vaccinated after cholera 
attacks the herd. In these cases the vaccination must 
take place as soon as possible. Those in the herd that 
have not been exposed to the germ over four days can 
be saved by the serum alone treatment. In this method 
the process is identical with simultaneous injection ex- 
cepting that cholera blood is not used. The serum is 
used in the same manner and proportions as described 
in the first method. Pregnant sows should be vaccin- 
ated by this method. 



Remember that the injection of serum alone (simple 
method) produces temporary immunity, unless the hog 



39 



is exposed to cholera germs. Remember that the injec- 
tion of serum and cholera blood at the same time 
(simultaneous method) produces life time immunity. 

NOTE — When pregnant soius are to be inoculated 
they should not be thrown down, but confined in some 
way to avoid rough handling and are inoculated in the 
vertical furrow between the head and shoulder just back 
of the ears. 



4" 



NOTICE. 

If you have not a naturally immune hog or find 
any difficulty in obtaining hypodermic syringes and 
gauze, both serum and appliances may be obtained 
from Mason 8. Peters, 809 Live Stock Exchange Bldg., 
Kansas City, Mo. 



AUG 2* 1SU 






One copy del. to Cat. Div. 



28 191! 



